"Why, sir, when I first knew her, she and her mother were living upon what they could earn, for the father was killed in action many years ago, and I used to help them as far as I could; but now I find that, although they are not changed, things are, most confoundedly. Her uncle lost his wife; he is considered a rich man, and being stone blind, and having no one to take care of him after his wife's death, he sent for this girl and her mother to keep his house and he is very fond of the girl, and declares that he will leave her all his money, and that she shall marry well. Now, sir, if she was to marry me, a petty officer only, it would not be considered that she married well; so you see, sir, there's a hitch." "Who and what was he?" "He was a smuggler, sir, and a very successful one; he has six or seven houses, all his own property besides the one he lives in himself. He lives about a quarter of a mile out of Gosport. I know all about him, although I have never seen him. Soon after he left off smuggling, he lost his eyesight, and, somehow or another, he considered it was a judgment upon him--at least his wife, who had joined the Ranters, persuaded him so--and so he took a religious turn, and now he does nothing but pray, and call himself a poor blind sinner." "Well, Bob, but I do not see why you should give up the girl." "No, sir; nor will she or her mother give me up. I could marry her to-morrow without his consent, but I do not like to do her that injury." "He is stone-blind, you say?" "Yes, sir." "We'll talk your affair over another time. What I want at present is, to help this poor young Vangilt to escape. He says, that if once clear, the smugglers would put him on the other side of the water. Now, it appears to me that it would be very easy for him to get out of the ship unperceived, if he were dressed in woman's clothes, so many women are going and coming all day long." "Very true, sir, especially on pay-day, when nobody keeps any look-out at all. I see now, you want some of Mary's clothes for him; they would fit very well." "Exactly; and I think that, as her uncle had been a smuggler, we might go and consult him as to his escape over the water. Vangilt will pay 100 pounds with pleasure--he told me so. That will be an introduction for you as well as for me to the old fellow." "I think we had better let the old fellow suppose it's a woman--don't you, sir? But what shall we call ourselves?" "Why, I will be a sort of agent for ships, an you shall be a captain." "A captain! Mr Keene." "Yes; a captain, who has had a ship, and expects another. Why, you were a captain of the fore-top before you were rated coxswain." "Well, sir, I must consult Mary and her mother, and then I'll let you know: they will come this afternoon. Perhaps in helping Mr Vangilt, I may help myself."